Combined artist&#39;s paint box and easel



E6, 1970 T. E. mm 3,514,173

COMBINED ARTIST'S PAINT BOX AND EASEL Filed June 25, .1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 'ouaoonoo HZ INVENTOR.

Tao/was E. FORQ I "f" r HTTORA/EY M 36, 1970 T. E. 35 9 COMBINED ARTIST'S PAINT BOX AND EASEL Filed June 25,, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [N VENTOR. THO/ 7$ E. FORD May 26, 1970 T. E. FORD 3,

COMBINED ARTIST'S PAINT BOX AND EASEL Filed June 25, 1968 r 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 N. Mi, il 64 74 76 7 2 66/ F11 FEE-.12 F15 .12

INVENTOR. THoMFis. E. FORD HTTOR/VEY United States Patent 3,514,173 COMBINED ARTISTS PAINT BOX AND EASEL Thomas E. Ford, 150--24 6th Ave., Whitestone, N.Y. 11357 Filed June 25, 1968, Ser. No. 739,872 Int. Cl. A47b 27/00, 97/04 US. Cl. 312-231 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combined artists paint box and easel having a compartmented box body open at the top with a hinged cover for closing the opening therein, the hinged cover serving as an easel when in open position. A sliding cover is provided for the open top of the compartments in the body when the box cover is in open position. The hinged box cover is provided with a perforated peg board adapted to receive and support removable brackets. An upright slat having a erosspiece is adapted to coact with the brackets for removably supporting the canvas to be painted upon. A tripod is removably secured to the box body for supporting the box body in horizontal position. A pair of legs is telescopically hinged to the box cover and when the cover is in open position is adapted to engage the supporting surface for steadying the paint box in erected condition. A tray is removably supported in the box body for holding a supply of pigments in spaced compartments therein.

This invention relates generally to painting outfits for artists and more particularly to new and useful improvements in a combined artists paint box and easel.

The general purpose of the invention is to provide an easily portable painting outfit by which the user can carry to the point of use all required facilities and which can be easily and quickly set up for convenient use of the facilities.

Another object of the invention is to provide a painting outfit for artists with simple and effective arrangements of the extensible and collapsible parts and with simple means whereby these parts may be securely held in collapsed relation for transportation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combined paint box and easel which includes a utility compartment for the storage of art supplies in an easily accessible location.

Yet another object is to provide a combined paint box and easel which is of reduced bulkhead when closed while being capable of offering the artist a large useful surface in an operative position.

Still another object is to provide a combined paint box and easel which includes a pigment holder which is conveniently and detachably secured for facilitating cleaning.

Still another object is to provide a combined paint box and easel having a pegboard thereon which supports a plurality of projections in adjustable position, the projections being adapted to engage and detachably support the board or canvas in operative position.

Still another object is to provide a combined paint box and easel wherein the easel is universally adjustable, the inclination and elevation of the easel being each independently adjustable so as to allow the board or canvas to be supported on a sufficiently low plane as well as a proper horizontal distance from the painter.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a combined paint box and easel embodying my invention, in closed position, canvas boards being shown carried in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the combined artists paint box and easel in open position, and in erected operative position.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view thereof with the compartment cover in closed position.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the compartment cover in open position.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the removable tray.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a detail plan view of a bracket.

FIG. 13 is an end view thereof.

FIG. 14 is a detail plan view of the adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 a combined artists paint box and easel 10 embodying the invention is illustrated in closed position. With particular reference to FIG. 6, the combined artists paint box and easel comprises a box-like body 12 and a hinged cover 14. The box-like body and cover may be made of wood, plastic or other suitable material.

The box-like body 12 consists of a bottom wall or base 16, a front wall 18, a rear Wall 20 and side walls 22 as viewed in FIG. 6, and a handle 13. The device is adapted to be detachably mounted on a conventional tripod having three legs 25. This detachable mounting includes a metal plate 26 on the bottom surface of the bottom wall 16, the plate being formed with a socket hole 28. An adapter 30 consisting of a metal disc 32 with a radial stem 34 extending from one surface thereof and a pin-like plug 36 extending from the opposite surface thereof. The plug 36 detachably seats in the socket hole 28 of the metal plate and the stem 34 is detachably sleeved into the top tubular end of the tripod.

The box-like body 12 has a series of longitudinal partition walls 38 intersected by a transverse partition wall 40. The walls 38 and 40 define compartments 42 for holding articles used in painting such as tubes 44 of paint and the like. A partition wall 46 extending from the front wall 18 to the rear wall 124 at one side of the interior of the box-like body forms with the walls 38 a compartment 48 for holding larger articles such as tubes 50. The partition wall 46 also forms with the adjacent side wall 22 0f the box-like body another compartment 52 for holding other articles and may also hold the tripod 24 when detached and in collapsed condition for transportation. The other side wall 22 of the box-like body with the adjacent transverse partition wall 40 defines a compartment 54 for holding articles such as turpentine containers 56. Between the rear longitudinal wall 124 and the rear wall 20 of the box-like body there is a compartment for detachably holding a tray 62 for holding pigments 64. The detachable tray comprises an elongated rectangular shaped body with a front side wall 66, a flat rear side wall 68 and end walls 70, 70. Partition walls 72 extend across from the front side wall to the rear side wall dividing the tray into a plurality of compartments 74 for holding various colored pigments 64. The tray is provided with a hinged cover 76 having an extension 78 for manipulating the tray. The top of the tray is on a level with the pallet.

The hinged cover 14 is box-like in configuration with a peg board or base 80 formed with spaced holes 82 over the entire area thereof. A front wall 84 and rear wall 86 are joined by side walls 88. The hinged connection between the box-like body and cover includes curved hinge plates 90 with elongated closed slots 92 pivotally connected at one end to the side walls 22 of the cover 14 and at the other end to the adjacent side walls 22 of the body. Pins 93 extend radially from the side walls 88 into and through the slots 92, sliding in the slots. These pins are threaded to receive thumb nuts 94. The rear and side walls of the cover are adapted to contact and engage with the rear and side walls of the box-like body when the cover is in closed condition as shown in FIG. 1. A pivotal hook 95 and eye 97 hold the cover closed.

An important feature of the present invention is the means for removably supporting a canvas or painting 96 and the like in a vertical position to be painted upon. For this purpose, a pair of wire brackets 98, 98 is provided for the bottom of the canvas to be painted upon. Each bracket 98 has an elongated body 100 bent at intervals therealong to form grooves 102 into which the bottom of the canvas seats. One end of the body is provided with a pair of hooks 104, 104 adapted to be removably inserted through a pair of adjacent holes 82 in the peg board or base 80 of the cover 14, so that the body 100 of the bracket extends radially forwardly of the peg board or base. A flat bar 196 extends across the cover from the front Wall 84 to the rear wall 86 and is provided with central spaced holes 108. An elongated slat 110 with a closed slot 111 is in juxtaposition with the bar 106 and is slidable thereupon. The slat is provided with a radially protruding threaded bolt 112 protruding through the slot 111 and has a wing nut 114 for engaging the threads of the bolt for holding the slot in adjusted position. At the top free end of the slat 110 as viewed in FIG. 6, a crosspiece 116 of the same mate rial is fixed thereat, extending beyond both sides of the slat. The under surface of the crosspiece 116 is formed with spaced grooves 118 adapted to receive and seat the top of the canvas being painted upon. The bottom end of the convas may be placed in any of the grooves in the brackets 98 and cross piece 116 for supporting the canvas at any inclination desired.

Another important feature of the present invention is a slidable cover or tray 120 for covering the compartments in the box-like body and preventing the articles therein from becoming displaced during transportation. The long edges of the cover slide in grooves 122 formed in the enlargement 124 on the outer surface of the rear wall 124 and a groove 123 in the front wall 18. The cover serves as a flat support for storing a removable card board pallet 128.

An extension 132 is hingedly secured to the top surface of the front wall 18 of the box-like body 12. The extension is adapted to be swung downwardly leaving an elongated opening for fittingly receiving a removable canvas or canvas board 134 or the like when the combined artists paint box and easel is being transported.

Elongated flat bars 138 may be pivotally secured at one end to the undersurface of the side walls 22 of the box-like body.

In use, the tripod 24 is erected on a supporting surface and the stem 34 of the adapter 30 is inserted into the top thereof. The closed combined artists paint box and easel is then supported horizontally on the adapter by positioning the plate 26 over the adapter with the pinlike plug 36 of the adapter inserted into the socket hole 38 of the plate. The cover 14 is then opened and a pair of pivoted telescopic legs 136 secured at one end to a bolt 137 on the side walls 88 of the cover, is swung outwardly of the cover and extended so that they rest on the supporting surface. A wing nut 139 holds the leg in adjusted position. The combined artists paint box and easel is thus supported on the three legs of the tripod 24 and the two pivotal legs 136, giving it a five-point support. The cover is supported at a slight slant to the vertical and serves as an easel. The perforated peg board or base of the cover coacting with the brackets 88 and cross piece 116 provide a very fine adjustment for supporting various sizes of canvas and the like for painting upon, in adjusted positions.

The versatility of the peg board or base 80 of the cover is brought out by the fact that the brackets 98 may be inserted into the holes 82 and extended forwardly of the cover for supporting the canvas or canvas board, painting or the like to be painted upon, when painting, and a pair of brackets '98, '98 may be inserted through the holes and extended rearwardly for supporting a canvas or a pair of canvases 140 during transportation of the combined artists paint box and easel as shown in FIG. 1.

When the box-like body 12 is closed by the cover 14, all of the tubes of paint, brushes, canvas boards, pallets and the like stay in place. When opened, the artist is ready to work without having to remove anything from the box body. This is made possible by the use of the sliding cover or tray 120. The cover or tray is able to slide from right to left or from left to right enabling the artist to reach the paint tubes, brushes, paint rags, oil and terpentine without lifting the cover or tray from the box-like body.

When the combined artists paint box and easel is in closed position, the tray 62 is also closed and may be wrapped with tin foil to keep it air tight which in turn keeps the unused paint in the compartments thereof which was squeezed from the tubes still moist for the next session of painting. When the combined artists paint box and easel is opened, when painting, the artist can open the cover or tray 62 enabling the artist to dip his brush into moist paint and start painting without having to squeeze colors out of the paint tubes onto the pallet as is the custom in other paint boxes.

I claim:

1. A combined artists paint box and easel comprising a shallow box-like body open at the top with compartments therein for painting articles and a hinged cover for closing the open top of the box-like body, said cover serving when in open position as an easel for supporting work to be painted upon, said body having a bottom wall and side walls, said cover having a base and side walls, said base constituting a pegboard with perforations to receive and support brackets for supporting the work to be painted upon, a slat being slidably mounted in upright position on the cover when the cover is in open position, said slat having means coacting with the brackets supported in the perforations of the pegboard for supporting work to be painted upon, the brackets comprising wire rods with spaced grooves formed therein for receiving the bottom end of work to be painted upon, said means in cluding a crosspiece carried at the top of the slat, said crosspiece having spaced cross grooves in the undersurface thereof in line with the grooves in the brackets for removably receiving the top end of the work to be painted upon, and a slidable cover shaped to conform to the area of the compartmented sections of the box body, said cover being reciprocally mounted on the compartmented sections of the box body for closing said compartments and for supporting a pallet, and paper for painting upon, and the like.

2. A combined artists paint box and easel comprising a shallow box-like body open at the top with compartments therein for painting articles and a hinged cover for closing the open top of the box-like body, said cover serving when in open position as an easel for supporting work to be painted upon, said body having a bottom wall and side walls, said cover having a base and side walls, said base constituting a pegboard with perforations to receive and support brackets for supporting the work to be painted upon, a slat being slidably mounted in upright position on the cover when the cover is in open position, said slat having means coacting with the brackets supported in the perforations of the pegboard for supporting work to be painted upon, the brackets comprising wire rods with spaced grooves formed therein for receiving the bottom end of work to be painted upon, said means including a crosspiece carried at the top of the slat, said crosspiece having spaced cross grooves in the undersurface thereof in line with the grooves in the brackets for removably receiving the top end of the work to be painted upon, and a tripod adapted to be detachably connected to the box-like body for supporting the box-like body at the center thereof from three points, and a pair of telescopic legs hinged to the cover of the box-like body and adapted when the box body cover is in open position to support said combined paint box and easel at two additional points of support.

3. A combined artists paint box and easel comprising a shallow box-like body open at the top with compartments therein for painting articles and a hinged cover for closing the open top of the box-like body, said cover serving when in open position as an easel for supporting work to be painted upon, said body having a bottom wall and side walls, said cover having a base and side walls, said base constituting a pegboard with perforations to receive and support brackets for supporting the work to be painted upon, a slat being slidably mounted in upright position on the cover when the cover is in open position, said slat having means coacting with the brackets supported in the perforations of the pegboard for supporting work to be painted upon, the brackets comprising wire rods with spaced grooves formed therein for receiving the bottom end of work to be painted upon, said means including a crosspiece carried at the top of the slat, said crosspiece having spaced cross grooves in the undersurface thereof in line with the grooves in the brackets for removably receiving the top end of the work to be painted upon, and a detachable pigment holder having a box-like body with bottom wall, side Walls and end walls and being open at the top, said body having partitions dividing the body into compartments for holding paint in paste form and a hinged cover for closing the open top of the body, a slidable cover shaped to conform to the area of the compartmented section of the box body, said cover being reciprocally mounted on the compartmented section of the box body for closing said compartmented section and for supporting a pallet and the like during transportation.

4. A combined artists paint box and easel as defined in claim 3 and a tripod adapted to be detachably connected to the box-like body for supporting the box-like body at the center thereof from three points, and a pair of telescopic legs hinged to the cover of the box-like body and adapted when the box body cover is in open position to support said combined paint box and easel at tWo additional points of support.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,058,706 10/1962 Snell 248-464 X 3,132,439 5/1964 McGill 312'231 3,168,363 2/1965 Mon Sour 312-231 3,202,471 8/1965 Wilson 312-231 3,294,251 12/ 1966 Howell 248464 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R, 248-461; 312 244 

